Analysis of Sexual Violence in College Campus Environments

This research essay addresses the critical issue of sexual violence on college campuses. It begins by defining the problem and highlighting its prevalence, citing statistics that indicate a significant number of students are affected each year. The essay explores various contributing factors, including the influence of drugs and alcohol, peer pressure, and the underreporting of incidents due to fear. It also examines the vulnerability of certain demographics, such as new students and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Furthermore, the essay discusses potential prevention strategies, such as self-defense classes, bystander intervention programs, and the importance of students being aware of their surroundings and making informed decisions. The conclusion emphasizes the need for college authorities to take proactive measures to address sexual violence and create a safer environment for all students.

Running head: SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN COLLEGE CAMPUS
Sexual Violence in College Campus
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Abstract
Campus Sexual Violence is one of the most serious issues that one hears of in the
present time. Sexual Violence is the assault on mostly the new students in the college on the
grounds of sexuality. It has been estimated that around 1000 students get sexually assaulted
every year in their college campuses. Although, a number of rules and regulations have been
laid down by the college authorities for the protection of the students, still the sexual assault
on campus continues to be a problem for the students in the campuses around the world.
This research paper aims to look at the problems of the sexual assault on the college
campus itself and also will deal with the problems of how to prevent such actions from
happening in the campuses.

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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Thesis Statement........................................................................................................................3
Discussion..................................................................................................................................3
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................6
Reference List............................................................................................................................7

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Introduction
The concept of the sexual violence on the campuses in the colleges is not new. It is
generally referred to the students getting sexually assaulted on the campus grounds, which
can also include the issues of rape. It is worth noting in this case, that the sexual assault on
the college campus is not only limited to the gender of the individuals. This means that it is
not only the females who get assaulted, but even the males and even the third gender students
can get assaulted in this situation. Although the lawsuits have been filed against the college
and the accused by the parents of the assaulted themselves, it can be said that the problem
persists in the country.
Thesis Statement
Sexual Violence on the campus grounds is a serious issue in the present day. As such
this report, would find the causes of sexual violence as well as how the students can prevent
themselves from becoming victims of such violence on the campus grounds.
Discussion
It is known from various sources that the issues of the sexual violence on the campus
is a very common issue in the present day itself. Instances of sexual violence on the campuses
can be seen almost in all the campuses in the world (Sweeney,2014). The main components
of the sexual violence on the college campus includes the unwanted sexual activities which
takes place between the students themselves. The new students are often threatened of their
lives by their seniors if they fail to comply with what is being asked of them. This is mainly
said to be caused by the influence of drugs and alcohol in the students themselves (Kessi
et,.all, 2016). The influences of these toxic substances on the individuals ultimately leads to
commit various kinds of sexual assault on the other students, either aware or unaware about
their actions.

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The grounds on which the issue of sexual violence is committed on the college
campuses are said to be on the basis of the race, age and ethnicity (Wooten, 2015). It is
especially seen in the females in the campuses, although it can be said that the males in the
campus can also be subject to the issues of the sexual violence. Experts claim that one out of
every five students in the college campus claims to be a victim of the sexual violence
themselves (Whitaker et.all, 2016). Another important factor that the experts have pointed out
is the belief that the students face the risk of being sexually assaulted during the first few
months of college life. This period might even be between the first and the second semesters
(Wooten,2015). However, the most common cases of the sexual violence is said to be
inflicted on the males and the females who are homosexual, bisexual or lesbian. While the
heterosexual people might also be victims of sexual assault themselves, it is said that the
reason mostly is on the ground of race and ethnicity and age. It is also commonly said that the
students between the age group of 18-24 years are the most likely to face the problems of
sexual assault in the college campus.
Sexual Violence can be said to be so common on the campus grounds because of
several different attributes itself. The first major cause is the use of the drugs and alcohol
among the students. It is because of the use of the drugs and the alcohol among the students
that a large number of incapacitated cases of rape occurs in case of the females (Kessi et.all,
2016). This is because of the fact many students resort to taking drugs and alcohol during
their first years in the college. The main reason for this is the feeling of pride as well as the
influence of the seniors in the college campus. The second cause of the sexual assault is the
non-reporting of such incidents to the college authorities. The reason for this is mainly the
fact of fear which the students feel for their lives. In most cases the students are warned
against complaining to the authorities by the seniors, which results in this issue continuing
the campus. The third is the peer pressure among the students (Sweeney, 2014). This means

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that the students might be pressurized into drinking, drug abuse and partying which can
ultimately lead to the cases of sexual assault for the students.
Sexual Violence of the students in the college campus is a very serious issue. There
are various ways by which the students can protect themselves from being victims of sexual
violence. The first thing to do in this case is to know all about the person that they interact
with. This will prevent them from interacting with individuals they find suspicious. The
second thing to do in this case is to be together with friends so that unknown people would
not try to take advantage of the situation. Keeping control of drinking habit might also be
helpful for the students themselves (Kessi et.all, 2016). Knowing about the resources is also
useful as they might help the students if they get into any kind of trouble. Last but not the
least, the students should have a planned time for returning home. This would ensure that the
students would not fall into trouble.
In addition to this, college authorities also need to take steps to make sure that the
cases of the sexual violence does not occur in the campus. One of the methods is to involve
the students into the self-defence classes. This would be very helpful for the students as this
might protect them from becoming a victim of the sexual violence inside the college campus.
Another way by which the issue can be protected is the intervention program which allow the
bystanders to intervene it they find any such cases of sexual violence happening on the
campus grounds. This will be more effective in the protection of the students in the college
(Dills et.all,2016). In addition to this, the problem of sexual violence can be reduced to a
great deal within the campus.
Conclusion
Thus, from the above discussions, it can be stated that the sexual violence on the
campus grounds indeed is one of the serious issues in the present times. The main roots o of

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such violence is the hatred for the people belonging from different cultures as well as the
sexuality of the people. In this regard, it is necessary for the college authorities that they take
appropriate measures so that the issues relating to the sexual violence so that the issues can be
resolved. If the issues relating to the sexual violence is not resolved in the colleges, then it
can become a serious problem. It is only when the college authorities get serious about the
issue that the problem of sexual violence can be removed from the college campus and the
students can be safe irrespective of their sexuality.
Reference List
Dills, J., Fowler, D., & Payne, G. (2016). Sexual violence on campus: Strategies for
prevention.
Kessi, S., Cornell, J., & Ratele, K. (2016). Race, gender and sexuality in student experiences
of violence and resistances on a university campus. Perspectives in Education, 34(2),
97-119.
Sweeney, B. (2014). To sexually perform or protect: masculine identity construction and
perceptions of women's sexuality on a university campus in the Midwestern USA.
Gender, Place & Culture, 21(9), 1108-1124.
Whitaker, L., & Pollard, J. (2014). Campus violence: Kinds, causes, and cures. Routledge.
Wooten, S. C. (2015). Heterosexist discourses: How feminist theory shaped campus sexual
violence policy. In The Crisis of Campus Sexual Violence (pp. 33-51). Routledge.

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